Critical Theory Today

by Tyson, Lois

• ISBN13: 9780815328797
• ISBN10: 0815328796
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-08-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Preface for Instructors	xiii
Everything You Wanted to Know about Critical Theory But Were Afraid to Ask	1	(12)
Psychoanalytic Criticism	13	(36)
The Origins of the Unconscious	14	(3)
The Defenses	17	(2)
Dreams and Dream Symbols	19	(4)
The Meaning of Death	23	(3)
The Meaning of Sexuality	26	(2)
Psychoanalysis and Literature	28	(4)
Some Questions Psychoanalytic Critics Ask about Literary Texts	32	(1)
``What's Love Got to Do with It?'': A Psychoanalytic Reading of The Great Gatsby	33	(12)
Questions for Further Practice: Psychoanalytic Approaches to Other Literary Works	45	(1)
For Further Reading	45	(4)
Marxist Criticism	49	(32)
The Fundamental Premises of Marxism	49	(2)
The Class System in America	51	(1)
The Role of Ideology	52	(6)
Human Behavior, the Commodity, and the Family	58	(3)
Marxism and Literature	61	(4)
Some Questions Marxist Critics Ask about Literary Texts	65	(1)
You Are What You Own: A Marxist Reading of The Great Gatsby	66	(11)
Questions for Further Practice: Marxist Approaches to Other Literary Works	77	(1)
For Further Reading	78	(3)
Feminist Criticism	81	(36)
Traditional Gender Roles	83	(7)
A Summary of Feminist Premises	90	(2)
Getting Beyond Patriarchy	92	(3)
Multicultural Feminism	95	(3)
Feminism and Literature	98	(3)
Some Questions Feminist Critics Ask about Literary Texts	101	(1)
``...next they'll throw everything overboard...'': A Feminist Reading of The Great Gatsby	102	(11)
Questions for Further Practice: Feminist Approaches to Other Literary Works	113	(1)
For Further Reading	114	(3)
New Criticism	117	(36)
``The Text Itself''	118	(2)
Literary Language and Organic Unity	120	(10)
A New Critical Reading of ``There Is a Girl Inside''	126	(4)
New Criticism as Intrinsic, Objective Criticism	130	(2)
The Single Best Interpretation	132	(1)
The Question New Critics Asked about Literary Texts	133	(1)
The ``deathless song'' of Longing: A New Critical Reading of The Great Gatsby	134	(15)
Questions for Further Practice: New Critical Approaches to Other Literary Works	149	(1)
For Further Reading	150	(3)
Reader-Response Criticism	153	(44)
Transactional Reader-Response Theory	157	(3)
Affective Stylistics	160	(3)
Subjective Reader-Response Theory	163	(5)
Psychological Reader-Response Theory	168	(3)
Social Reader-Response Theory	171	(2)
Defining Readers	173	(2)
Some Questions Reader-Response Critics Ask about Literary Texts	175	(2)
Projecting the Reader: A Reader-Response Analysis of The Great Gatsby	177	(14)
Questions for Further Practice: Reader-Response Approaches to Other Literary Works	191	(1)
For Further Reading	192	(5)
Structuralist Criticism	197	(44)
Structural Linguistics	201	(2)
Structural Anthropology	203	(2)
Semiotics	205	(3)
Structuralist Approaches to Literature	208	(16)
The Structure of Literary Genres	210	(4)
The Structure of Narrative (Narratology)	214	(8)
The Structure of Literary Interpretation	222	(2)
Some Questions Structuralist Critics Ask about Literary Texts	224	(2)
``Seek and Ye Shall Find''... and Then Lose: A Structuralist Reading of The Great Gatsby	226	(11)
Questions for Further Practice: Structuralist Approaches to Other Literary Works	237	(2)
For Further Reading	239	(2)
Deconstructive Criticism	241	(36)
Deconstructing Language	242	(6)
Deconstructing Our World	248	(2)
Deconstructing Human Identity	250	(1)
Deconstructing Literature	251	(8)
A Deconstructive Reading of Robert Frost's ``Mending Wall''	254	(5)
Some Questions Deconstructive Critics Ask about Literary Texts	259	(2)
``...the thrilling, returning trains of my youth...'': A Deconstructive Reading of The Great Gatsby	261	(13)
Questions for Further Practice: Deconstructive Approaches to Other Literary Works	274	(1)
For Further Reading	275	(2)
New Historical and Cultural Criticism	277	(40)
New Historicism	278	(9)
New Historicism and Literature	287	(5)
Cultural Criticism	292	(3)
Cultural Criticism and Literature	295	(2)
Some Questions New Historical and Cultural Critics Ask about Literary Texts	297	(2)
The Discourse of the Self-Made Man: A New Historical Reading of The Great Gatsby	299	(12)
Questions for Further Practice: New Historical and Cultural Criticism of Other Literary Works	311	(1)
For Further Reading	312	(5)
Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Criticism	317	(46)
The Marginalization of Lesbians and Gay Men	318	(5)
Lesbian Criticism	323	(7)
Gay Criticism	330	(6)
Queer Criticism	336	(5)
Some Shared Features of Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Criticism	341	(3)
Some Questions Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Critics Ask about Literary Texts	344	(1)
Will the Real Nick Carraway Please Come Out? A Queer Reading of The Great Gatsby	345	(12)
Questions for Further Practice: Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Approaches to Other Literary Works	357	(2)
For Further Reading	359	(4)
Postcolonial and African American Criticism	363	(60)
Postcolonial Criticism	364	(16)
Postcolonial Identity	365	(6)
Postcolonial Debates	371	(3)
Postcolonial Theory and Literature	374	(4)
Some Questions Postcolonial Criticism Ask about Literary Texts	378	(2)
African American Criticism	380	(18)
Racial Issues and African American Literary History	380	(8)
African American Criticism Today	388	(10)
Some Questions African American Critics Ask about Literary Texts	398	(2)
Some Shared Features of Postcolonial and African American Criticism	400	(1)
The Colony Within: A Postcolonial Reading of The Great Gatsby	401	(14)
Questions for Further Practice	415	(3)
Postcolonial Approaches to Other Literary Works	415	(2)
African American Approaches to Other Literary Works	417	(1)
For Further Reading	418	(5)
Gaining an Overview	423	(8)
Index	431